Stream online content to your TV
Built-in WiFi
BBC iPlayer & ITV Player & All 4 & My5
Access content on Netflix & Amazon Prime & NOW TV
Cast content from your mobile device
Top comments
Elevation to Cialilerin
21 Nov 164#8
So for most people: not the same price on Amazon then...
All comments (52)
t4r
21 Nov 16#1
Is the main difference between the Roku and Amazon Prime the ability to Cast (independently) from a mobile device? By independent I mean casting through another app such All cast so you can still use your phone as opposed to casting the actual phone screen?
argosextra to t4r
21 Nov 16#2
Yes
dralanhart to t4r
21 Nov 16#3
No. both FireTV and Roku have limited casting support compared to Chromecast. the main difference is that Roku supports just about all UK streaming services while FireTV is missing NowTV/Sky and Google Play. Amazon services have a better user interface on the Amazon equipment. Netflix playback on a Fire stick was ropey in my experience, sometimes unusable. I have a suspicion that sometimes on some services you don't get the full quality stream with Roku, or the picture is slightly soft compared to FireTV or Chromecast, but I have not been able to prove this and indeed the quality seemed identical on YouTube when I tested it.
eslick
21 Nov 161#4
well that's the argos one going back then
dwl99
21 Nov 161#5
amazon have inevitably price matched
vassy4u
21 Nov 16#6
Thanks Ashok. Heat added :smiley:
Cialilerin
21 Nov 16#7
now same price on Amazon with prime
Elevation to Cialilerin
21 Nov 164#8
So for most people: not the same price on Amazon then...
Destard
21 Nov 16#9
I guess you can't put Kodi on this?
Jomumma2white to Destard
7 Dec 16#52
you can put the kodi app on your phone/tablet etc and use the kodi set up wizard app to add the repo's and builds etc then stream to your TV right?
Heat777
21 Nov 16#10
What's the difference between this and kodi? Excuse m'gnorance.
coco_cool
21 Nov 16#11
Can you stream movies to this from a NAS?
xstrata
21 Nov 16#12
What's better- this or the Firestick (obviously this one is cheaper at the moment). Just want to watch the new Clarkson show on Amazon Prime TV,
itm2
21 Nov 16#13
Can you get access to a Slingbox from this?
Proveright
21 Nov 16#14
It is about time I took the jump to try one of these sticks . Would appreciate for a newbie in this field any comments which is better? I want to stream from Android phone and Windows internet.
1) Roku 3500Eu
2) Amazon fire TV stick
3) Google Chromecast
4) Now TV Box
agnostic to Proveright
21 Nov 16#17
Firestick or an Android box. A few quid more but far more content.
Musicrab to Proveright
22 Nov 16#31
Roku has Amazon Video; Chromecast has BT Sport; Now TV runs on both; Amazon fire I don't know about.
One thing I have noticed with these devices is how primitive their initial setup User Interfaces are. You'd think we'd have progressed beyond having to type passwords using a virtual keyboard (and accessing/remembering the password in the first place is another story...)
Looking forward to the day we just use finger-print/retinal/voice for accessing services.
SamBee1
21 Nov 16#15
Hello peeps, my 72 year old mum wants to access Netflix, so has asked about a variety of streaming devices. I have an Amazon Fire Stick, but want to check out Chromecast & Roku (of which I have no experience).
Am I right in saying Chromecast doesn't have a remote? In which case it's ruled out as my ma doesn't have a smartphone? In which case Roku vs Fire Stick.
Fire Stick is straight forward, and she'll have no problems using. What are your thoughts those who have better experience? Remember it's for a 72 year old gran who will probably only use Netflix, so rooting to access Ukrainian streams, voice remote etc is not relevant! Appreciate your advice before I dive in and buy
rqmusicfan to SamBee1
21 Nov 161#16
Yeah you're right, Chromecast requires a phone or laptop to cast stuff from webpages/apps.
I've not used a fire stick before but we got a Roku stick at the weekend and I'm pretty pleased with it, it has a netflix shortcut button on the remote that launches the app so it's pretty straightforward to use for that. Plus as the thing isn't tied so closely to a company like the fire stick I feel it's probably a bit less restrictive in the range of apps from Amazon competitors.
SamBee1
21 Nov 16#18
That's great - mind made up. I did see the Netflix button - wondered if it was advertising or an actual shortcut button so thanks.
What are the others? According to google Amazon, Rdio, and Sling TV - never heard of the last 2!!
rqmusicfan
21 Nov 16#19
Yeah I noticed there are different buttons on some pictures of the remote, I guess the remotes are pretty specific to where the thing is being sold. The buttons on the UK one are Netflix, Spotify, Youtube and Google Play
tehwabbit
21 Nov 16#20
Can anybody confirm if Netflix runs OK on these?
My old Roku (LT) has netflix but the UI was pants and its a little slow. Is it better on this? How is it compared to the Xbox/ipad/etc. Early reviews suggested it took a while to boot. Overall, the Rokus always seemed a little underpowered for "complicated" UIs
rqmusicfan to tehwabbit
21 Nov 161#21
It runs fine, admittedly the version on the ps3/ps4 is quicker to load, The menu is still identical in look and function to the console version, but you do notice it's a bit slower to get up to speed with the menu initially. I haven't found it frustrating or anything, part of the reason I bought it though was to avoid having to switch a console on just to use Netflix.
srp111
21 Nov 16#22
i got the 3600 from the usa and its a thousand times better, its probably coming here hence the price reduction.
I have fire tv box, android media player and chromecast. Is there any reason I should get this?
westernise
22 Nov 16#27
Which device would be best to cast movies from say vlc/showbox straight on to the TV without too much hassle?
smallsteve
22 Nov 16#28
Would I be correct in thinking this is the slightly older version and not the one reviewed on TechRadar? I think the new one is Matt black, but I'm not sure whether it is currently available in this country?
I have only just started looking at these streaming devices, on behalf of my mother, and wonder if a stick is the way to go or whether it is better to go the whole hog and get one of the more fancy boxes? Obviously ease-of-use is key, but don't mind paying more for extra functionality that delivers! I will be able to set any box up for my mother, but it has to be easy to use thereafter when I am not around. Any suggestions?
nige182 to smallsteve
22 Nov 16#29
The TechRadar one is probably the newer model not available in the UK. I recommend against importing as well as it seems importing means you cannot get BBC iPlayer and some other UK services.
In regards to suggestions, ignoring price for a second, I think the boxes better suit living areas as they are really small and faster (assuming you get a current model not the old v1 boxes). However for say a kitchen I think the stick suits better, it can be plugged into the HDMI and USB of the TV and completely hidden and the Roku stick remote is not IR so works without pointing at the TV too.
However if the price jump from stick to box is large, the stick does perform reasonably well, it isn't too sluggish as to be annoying.
gavp
22 Nov 16#30
I just bought one of these and had problems setting it up, wouldn't see my extender so i moved the bedroom TV closer and still wouldn't connect. I got an error code 014.
This fixed it in case anyone else has the same problem:
Just set it up to 'test' it out - pretty impressive little unit, was able to stream 1080p Netflix without any issues. Very handy having Now TV, Amazon Video, Plex, Spotify and Netflix all in one compact unit. Kids will be very happy with them I think come Christmas Day :sunglasses:.
seraj
23 Nov 16#33
ordered one from argos for £20...going straight back. Can get 2 lots of chicken and chips now for the 2 quid!!!
rolstherat to seraj
23 Nov 16#34
Debating wherther to the same?? £2.....
Zool
23 Nov 16#35
is anybody else finding this stick very sluggish or is it just me?
Graham35 to Zool
26 Nov 16#36
I found mine very slow to start with, but once it has warmed up it goes very well, it seems to need time to sort its self out for a minute or two, then mine performs very well - so far :smiley:
willsy01
28 Nov 16#37
Try and get one working. For most people Amazon or Chromecast are better and much easier to set up.
mocmocamoc to willsy01
28 Nov 16#43
I would concur on this thought, I guess Netflix and the like needs a lot of time to download all the pics and info, etc. Takes a while to load up to start with, but seems to get faster as I guess it sort of keeps things in the background.
It is slower than my Fire TV box as expected, but not noticeably slower than my FireTV stick, either way the advantage of having Amazon, Netflix and Now all in one device is enough of a plus that I'm not concerned about the slight slowness in loading the apps.
The stuff all seems to be streaming fine!
SusieQu
28 Nov 16#38
Do I still have to subscribe to Netflix and amazon prime or doe this have it on?
nige182 to SusieQu
28 Nov 16#39
You can use either or both on the Roku but you must still have active subscriptions to use them.
anthony212
28 Nov 16#40
can you cast the BT sport app to this?
big8yearold
28 Nov 16#41
can anyone confirm that KODI will not work on this???
or will it......
nige182 to big8yearold
28 Nov 16#42
I can confirm there is no Kodi for this and most likely never will be.
fishmaster to big8yearold
28 Nov 161#47
Kodi is massively overrated software even if you use refined builds such as Paradox. I'd always favour a direct app solution over Kodi (mobdro, cartoon hd, cinemabox hd, showbox, movie hd etc) and if I was doing IPTV I'd choose Plex over Kodi. Kodi is always a last resort backup in my opinion. All android apks can be obtained from rawapk for the above and all are free software.
paulpso
28 Nov 16#44
Hmm. says plex is available for it but when I check it says not in your region.... can anyone confirm if you can get plex on it?
nige182 to paulpso
28 Nov 16#45
I have Plex on mine, the web store is unavailable in the UK.
paulpso
28 Nov 16#46
So I just side load it or something?
nige182
28 Nov 16#48
You can get it on the Roku store on the stick itself, there is just no web store that you can view through your computer browser in the UK. There is a full Roku UK store on the stick and Plex is on there.
paulpso
28 Nov 16#49
Ah ok thanks. I've got it but unfortunately the remote refuses to sync. typical.
paulpso
28 Nov 16#50
If anyone on virgin media gets one and discovers to wont connect to the wifi properly, google the hidden menu. you need to put in a code and turn of pinging. guide I found was 2 years old so they obviously don't care about fixing it.
JustExtreme
29 Nov 16#51
Too true. With all the posts of Android boxes and streaming sticks in here there's always at least 1 who comes along bleating about Kodi. The main appeal seems to be to tech Illiterate people who don't know what an APK or a torrent is.
Opening post
Built-in WiFi
BBC iPlayer & ITV Player & All 4 & My5
Access content on Netflix & Amazon Prime & NOW TV
Cast content from your mobile device
Top comments
All comments (52)
1) Roku 3500Eu
2) Amazon fire TV stick
3) Google Chromecast
4) Now TV Box
One thing I have noticed with these devices is how primitive their initial setup User Interfaces are. You'd think we'd have progressed beyond having to type passwords using a virtual keyboard (and accessing/remembering the password in the first place is another story...)
Looking forward to the day we just use finger-print/retinal/voice for accessing services.
Am I right in saying Chromecast doesn't have a remote? In which case it's ruled out as my ma doesn't have a smartphone? In which case Roku vs Fire Stick.
Fire Stick is straight forward, and she'll have no problems using. What are your thoughts those who have better experience? Remember it's for a 72 year old gran who will probably only use Netflix, so rooting to access Ukrainian streams, voice remote etc is not relevant! Appreciate your advice before I dive in and buy
I've not used a fire stick before but we got a Roku stick at the weekend and I'm pretty pleased with it, it has a netflix shortcut button on the remote that launches the app so it's pretty straightforward to use for that. Plus as the thing isn't tied so closely to a company like the fire stick I feel it's probably a bit less restrictive in the range of apps from Amazon competitors.
What are the others? According to google Amazon, Rdio, and Sling TV - never heard of the last 2!!
My old Roku (LT) has netflix but the UI was pants and its a little slow. Is it better on this? How is it compared to the Xbox/ipad/etc. Early reviews suggested it took a while to boot. Overall, the Rokus always seemed a little underpowered for "complicated" UIs
http://www.argos.co.uk/product/4119485
I have only just started looking at these streaming devices, on behalf of my mother, and wonder if a stick is the way to go or whether it is better to go the whole hog and get one of the more fancy boxes? Obviously ease-of-use is key, but don't mind paying more for extra functionality that delivers! I will be able to set any box up for my mother, but it has to be easy to use thereafter when I am not around. Any suggestions?
In regards to suggestions, ignoring price for a second, I think the boxes better suit living areas as they are really small and faster (assuming you get a current model not the old v1 boxes). However for say a kitchen I think the stick suits better, it can be plugged into the HDMI and USB of the TV and completely hidden and the Roku stick remote is not IR so works without pointing at the TV too.
However if the price jump from stick to box is large, the stick does perform reasonably well, it isn't too sluggish as to be annoying.
This fixed it in case anyone else has the same problem:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OHJmr9Gur0
It is slower than my Fire TV box as expected, but not noticeably slower than my FireTV stick, either way the advantage of having Amazon, Netflix and Now all in one device is enough of a plus that I'm not concerned about the slight slowness in loading the apps.
The stuff all seems to be streaming fine!
or will it......